Climate Protection and Lobau Tunnel Topic in the Vienna City Council
In Vienna, the presumably last special municipal council meeting of this legislative period took place on Friday. The focus of the event was climate policy. "Photovoltaics to Lobau - the federal government doesn't care about climate protection" was the title of the session requested by the Greens. Unsurprisingly, there was once again an intense discussion about a highly controversial project in the federal capital: the Lobau tunnel. The Greens see it as a "billion-dollar grave."
Greens Criticize
In climate policy, party leader Peter Kraus lamented, a reverse gear is currently being engaged. The tunnel, for example, is now back in the new federal coalition agreement. "The Lobau highway is the worst of all alternatives," Kraus was convinced. This would cost up to 6 billion euros.
"This is something that cannot be explained to people at a time when money is lacking everywhere," said the Green politician. He cited a survey according to which even the majority of SPÖ voters were against it. The project is a "completely outdated project," he stated.
FPÖ Points to City Road
The climate and environment spokesperson of the Vienna FPÖ, Udo Guggenbichler, referred in his speech to the so-called city road - the connection section from Seestadt to the Tangente, which is already under construction. This is part of the project. The planning and financing took place during the red-green coalition in Vienna. The Greens had submitted and defended financing applications as recently as 2019, he pointed out to the eco-party.
"In the evening, the lazy become diligent," also stated NEOS club chairwoman Selma Arapovic. The Greens had engaged in "a lot of symbolic politics," whereas the city has become greener after five years of NEOS government participation. They have taken over many construction sites in this area. She also criticized the Greens for not agreeing to the recently passed Vienna Climate Act.
Taucher Praises Red-Pink
The environmental and climate protection spokesperson of the Vienna ÖVP, Josef Mantl, according to his own statements, has no doubt that the Lobau tunnel is important. "It should divert heavy traffic out of the city and relieve the people in Donaustadt." Another delay would be "unacceptable" for residents. The missing S1 link should be built quickly. Vienna urgently needs a bypass, Mantl noted.
SPÖ club chairman Josef Taucher was also surprised by the Greens' non-approval of the Climate Act: "That's a bit puzzling to me." At the same time, former Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) built bypasses everywhere. "Construction was happening everywhere merrily, come hell or high water." Only in Vienna did this not happen. Instead, the Greens voted against the traffic-calmed city center, he criticized. In contrast, Red-Pink received praise: In Vienna, many environmental and climate projects have been implemented in recent years, such as greening or renaturation, Taucher said.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.
